Prof. Rainer Schlegel joined the social court system in 1987. In 1997, he was appointed judge, and in 2008, he became a presiding judge at the Federal Social Court. From 2010 until the end of 2013, he headed the Department of Labor Law and Occupational Safety at the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. After returning to the Federal Social Court, he became its Vice President in July 2014. On October 1, 2016, Prof. Dr. Rainer Schlegel was appointed President of the Federal Social Court. He retired at the end of February 2024.